ramion



Rh 9 00 G 0 d e l n e a P ,N. 0 M A R P 3 6 3 Q 6 N RAILWAY FROG.

(Application filed Jan. 18, 1897. Renewed Jan. 27, 1898.)

2 Sheets$heet I.

ATTORNEYS,

(N0 Model.)

cRms PETERS 0a., PHOTOLITHQ. WASHINGTON, b. c.

N0. 6|2,363. Patented Oct. ll, I898.

P. RAMION.

RAILWAY FROG.

(Application filed Jan. 18, 1897. Renewed Jan. 27, 1898.) (No Model.) 2 She6ts-$heet 2.

WITNESSES: l VENT OR umm /%,;%i 1' fj? 45am, BY ATTORNEYS,

PATENT OFFICE.

PETER J. RAMION, OF SYRACUSE, NEXV YORK, ASSIGNOR TO MATILDA E. RAMION, OF SAME PLACE.

RAILWAY-FROG.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 612,363, dated October 1 1, 1898. Application filed January 18, 1897. Renewed January 27, 1898. Serial No. 668,229. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PETER J. RAMION, of Syracuse, in thecounty of Onondaga, in the State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Railway-Frogs, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to improvements in railway-frogs provided with movable switchpoints, and has for its object the production of a simple and practical device of such construction that the accumulation of dirt or other material in the path of the switchpoint is prevented and to this end the invention consists in the general combination,

construction, and arrangement of the parts of a railway-frog, all as hereinafter fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

In describing this invention reference is had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which like letters indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a top plan of a portion of a railway provided with my improved frog. Figs. 2 and 3 are longitudinal and transverse vertical sections -taken, respectively, on lines 2 2 and 3 3, Fig. 1. Figs l and 5 are-horizontal sections taken, respectively, on lines at at and 5 5, Fig. 3, the sliding bar and rocking lever being omitted in Fig. 5. Fig. 6 is a top plan, partly broken away, of the detached sliding bar and the armature provided thereon; and Fig. 7 is an isometric view of the detached rocking lever.

A A A A are the rails of main and branch tracks, and B B are frogs for uniting said rails. The frog B may be of any suitable construction, and the frog B is provided with a switch-pointb, movable between the diverging rails Z) I) of said frog. The body of the frog B is provided atone end with downwardly-extending openings and with separated bars 5 whichare interposed between said openings, are arranged transversely between the rails b b, and are preferably formed integral with said body. The opposite end of the body of the frog B is provided with a socket 11 arranged between the rails 1) b, and with an annular upwardly-projecting flange b encircling the upper end of the socket 19 The upper faces of the bars 11 form the bearing for the free extremity of the switch-point b and are generally provided with substantially flat central portions. The opposite ends of said faces extend beyond the substantially upright longitudinal surfaces of the adjacent faces of the rails Z) Z), presently described, and are usually inclined downwardly in opposite directions from substantially the plane of the central portions of said faces for facilitating the downward passage of dirt, snow, or other material between the bars Z2 into a suitable chamber 13 which is arranged beneath the frog B and is detachably engaged with its lower face. The frog B is provided with a suitable manhole biand the chamber B is formed with an overflow-conduit b The adjacent faces of the diverging rails 12 b are formed with substantially upright longitudinal surfaces 11 and with longitudinal surfaces 12 diverging downwardly from said surfaces 19 toward the openings between the bars 12 The longitudinal surfaces b7 limit the lateral movement of the free extremity of the switch-point, and the longitudinal surfaces 12 preferably form cut-outs in the adjacent faces of the rails b b for facilitating the downward passage into the chamber B of dirt, snow, or other material admitted between said rails.

The switch-point b may be supported in any suitable manner between the rails b b and is usually pivoted at its rear extremity. The opposite or free extremity of the switchpoint Z) is provided with substantially upright lengthwise sides or surfaces arranged opposite to the longitudinal surfaces b b of the rails b b. As the free extremity of the switchpoint I) is moved to and fro its substantially upright lengthwise sides or surfaces engage the longitudinal surfaces 12 and are thereby prevented from engaging the longitudinal surfaces b which are arranged at an angle with said lengthwise sides or surfaces. I preferably provide the lower face of the rear or pivoted extremity of the switch-point with an annular recess Z2 and a depending spindle b arranged concentric with said recess. The spindle Z7 is surrounded by a packing-sleeve b and is journaled in the socket b and the recess 1) receives the annular flange Z7, surrounding sai'd socket. The described means for connecting the rear or pivoted extremity of the switch-point to the body of. the frog is particularly desirable, as it prevents the ac cess of liquid or moisture to the pivot of the switch-point and obviates the undue wear, inefficiency, and annoyance that would result, particularly in cold weather, were moisture free to accumulate around said pivot.

The switch-point b may be moved to and fro between the rails b b by hand or by any suitable mechanism; but in the preferable construction of my invention suitable electromagnets O O are connected to said switchpoint for effecting the desired movement thereof. The electromagnets O O are usually arranged in a horizontal plane at opposite sides of a common armature c and are suitably supported by the frog in a recess Z2 formed in the lower face of its body. Corresponding ends of the coils of the electromagnets are connected to a grounded conductor, as one of the rails A, and their opposite ends are connected to separated electrical conlateral projections d which are provided upon the switch-point Z) and close the upper end of said opening during the movement of the switch-point. I

The operation of my invention will now be readily understood upon reference to the foregoing description and the accompanying drawings, and it will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art that as the switch-point is moved to and fro, either by hand or by the magnets C C, any dirt or other material res ing upon the substantially flat central portions of the bars 5 is moved sidewise to the downwardly-inclined ends of said bars and the longitudinal cut-outsin the adjacent sides of the diverging rails, and that consequently the movement ofthe switch-point between the diverging rails b b tends to effect the downward passage of any dirt, snow, &c., which is admitted to said frog in proximity to its free extremity and does not immediately pass downwardly between the bars 11 into the chamber 13*.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by ductors or terminals 0 c, which may be supported above the rails A A A A, although they usually consist of bars or strips of metal interposed between the rails A A of the main track in advance of the frog B. The terminals c c are engaged by suitable terminals 0 c, which are supported by a vehicle or car (not illustrated) movable along the rails A A A A, are insulated from each other, and are independently connected to a suitable grounded source of electric energy, as a trolley-wire. (Not illustrated.) Vhen the terminals c c c c are engaged with each other and either of the terminals 0 c is connected to the grounded source of electric energy, the current is free to pass through the corresponding electromagnet, which is immediately energized and attracts the armature c.

The means for connecting the armature c to the switch-point 1) maybe of any desirable construction, and is here illustrated as a sliding bar D and a substantially upright rocking lever cl. The sliding bar D is reciprocally movable through an opening in the body of the frog B, and one of its ends is preferably fixed to the armature c. The opposite end of the sliding bar is formed with a transverselyextending engaging portion or pin d. The rocking lever 01 is arranged in a substantially upright opening formed in one of the bars 17 and is provided with projecting trunnions, which are removably mounted in sockets 1), formed in the opposite side walls of said opening and extending downwardly from the top face of said bar. The upper end of the rocking lever is detachably arranged in a socket in the lower face of the switch-point b, and its opposite end is detachably engaged with the engaging portion or pin d of the sliding barD. The entrance of dirt, snow, &c., into the up-, right opening, in which the rocking lever D is arran ged,is prevented by oppositely-arranged Letters Patent, is

1. A railway-frog comprising a body provided with downwardly-extending openings, diverging rails having their adjacent faces formed with longitudinal surfaces diverging downwardly toward said openings, and a switch-point interposed between the rails and having one extremity pivoted and its other extremity movable between the adjacent faces of the rails and formed with lengthwise surfaces arranged opposite to said downwardlydiverging surfaces and at an angle therewith, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. A railway frog comprising diverging rails having longitudinal cut-outs in their adjacent faces, a body provided with separated bars arranged transversely between the rails and having their upper faces disposed beneath the upperedges of the cut-outs, and a switch-point interposed between the rails and having one extremity movable upon the upper faces of the separated bars and formed with lengthwise surfaces arranged opposite to the longitudinal cut-outs in the rails and at an angle with downwardly-extending 1ongitudinal surfaces of said cut-outs, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. A railway-frog comprising diverging rails having the upper portions of their ad jacent faces formed with substantially upright longitudinal surfaces and longitudinal surfaces diverging downwardly from the former surfaces, a body provided with separated bars arranged transversely between the rails beneath the substantially upright longitudinal surfaces of their adjacent faces and having their opposite ends extended beyond said substantially upright surfaces,and a switch-point interposed between the rails and having one extremity provided with substantially upright lengthwise surfaces and movable upon the upper faces of the separated bars between said upper portions of the adjacent faces of the rails, substantially as and for the purpose described.

4:. A railway frog comprising diverging rails having longitudinal cut-outs in their adjacent faces, a body provided with separated bars arranged transversely between the rails and having their upper faces disposed beneath the upper edges of the cut-outs, said separated bars having the central portions of their upper faces formed substantially fiat and the opposite ends of their upper faces inclined downwardly from substantially the plane of said central portions, and a switchpoint interposed between the rails and having one extremity movable upon the central portions of the upper faces of the separated bars toward and away from the downwardlyinclined ends of said faces, the lengthwise sides of the free extremity of the switch-point being movable into and out of engagement with the adjacent faces of the diverging rails and being prevented from engaging downwardly-extending surfaces of the cut-outs, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

5. A railway-frog comprising a body provided with downwardly-extending openings, diverging rails having their adjacent faces formed with longitudinalcut-outs communicating at their lower portions with said openings, and a switch-point interposed between the rails and having one extremity pivoted and its other extremity movable between the adjacent faces of the rails, the lengthwise sides of the free extremity of the switch-point bein g movable into and out of engagement with the adjacent faces of the diverging rails and being prevented from engaging downwardlyextending surfaces of the cut-outs, substantially as and for the purpose described.

(3. A railway-frog comprising a body provided with downwardly-extending openings, diverging rails having their adjacent faces formed with longitudinal surfaces diverging downwardly toward said openings, and a switch-point interposed between the rails and having one extremity pivoted and its other extremity movable between the adjacent faces of the rails and formed with lengthwise surfaces arranged opposite to said downwardlydiverging surfaces and at an angle therewith; in combination with a receptacle supported beneath the downweirdly-extending openings and communicating therewith, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

7. A railway frog comprising diverging rails having their adjacent faces formed with downwardlydiverging longitudinal surfaces, a body provided with separated bars arranged transversely between the rails, and having the central portions of their upper faces formed substantially fiat and the opposite ends of their. upper faces inclined downwardly from substantially the plane of said central portions, and a switch-point pivoted to the body of the frog and having its free extremity movable upon the central portions of the upper faces of the separated bars toward and away from the downwardly-inclined ends ofsaid upper faces, said switch-point being formed with lengthwise surfaces arranged opposite to said downwardly-diverging surfaces and at an angle therewith; in combination with a receptacle supported beneath the separated bars, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

8. A railway-frog comprising a body provided with downwardly-extending openings, diverging rails having their adjacent faces formed with longitudinal cut-outs communicating at their lower portions with said openings, and a switch-point interposed between the rails and having one extremity movable between the adjacent faces of the rails, the lengthwise sides of the free extremity of the switch-point being movable into and out of engagement with the adjacent faces of the diverging rails, and being prevented from engaging downwardly-extending surfaces of the cut-outs; in combination with a receptacle supported beneath the cut-outs and communicating therewith, substantially as and for the purpose setforth.

9. A railway-frog comprising a body provided with downwardly-extending openings, diverging rails having their adjacent faces formed with longitudinal surfaces diverging downwardly toward said openings, and a switch-point interposed between the rails and having one extremity pivoted and its otherextremity movable between the adjacent faces of the rails and formed with lengthwise surfaces arranged opposite to said downwardlydiverging surfaces and at an angle therewith; in combination with an armature connected to the switch-point for moving the same, and an electromagnet for actuating the armature, substantially as and for the purpose described.

10. A railway-frog comprising diverging rails having the upper portions of their adj acent faces formed with substantially upright longitudinal surfaces, and longitudinal surfaces diverging downwardly from the former surfaces, a body provided with separated bars arranged transversely between the rails beneath the substantially upright longitudinal surfaces of their adjacent faces, and having their opposite ends extended beyond said sub 'stantially upright su rfaces, and a switch-point interposed between the rails and having one extremity provided with substantially upright lengthwise surfaces and movable upon the upper faces of the separated bars between said upper portions of the adjacent faces of the rails; in combination with an armature connected to the switch-point, for moving the same, and an electromagnet for actuating the armature, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

11. A railway-frog comprising diverging rails, separated bars arranged transversely between the rails, one of the bars being pro vided with a substantially upright opening having its side walls formed with sockets eX- tending downwardly from the top face of said bar, a switch-point interposed between the rails and having one extremity pivoted, and its other extremity movable upon the separated bars, a rocking lever connected to the switch-point and formed with proj eotin g trunnions mounted in said sockets, an armature connected to the rocking lever, and electromagnets for actuating the armature, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

12. A railway-frog comprising diverging rails, separated bars arranged transversely between the rails, one of the bars being provided with a substantially upright opening, a switch-point interposed between the rails and having one extremity pivoted and its other extremity movable upon the separated bars, and formed with lateral projections for closing the upper end of the substantially upright opening, a rocking bar supported in said opening and having its upper end detachably engaged with the lower face of the switchpoint, a reciprocating rod having one end provided with an armature and its opposite end detachably engaged with the rocking lever, and electromagnets for actuating the armature, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name, in the presence of two attesting witnesses, at Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga, in the State of New York, this 14th day of January, 1897.

PETER J. RAMION.

Vitnesses:

E. A. WEISBURG, K. H. THEOBALD. 

